Knox to Sir Henry Percy
1559.
KNOX TO SIR H. PERCY.
The Names of the Erllts, Lordis, with some peincipall Barons and Gentilmen of the Congregation.
The Erie of Arguyle, and Piyour of St. Andros.
The Eiiles of Eothes and Monttetht.
The Lordis Reven, Ogylvie, and Droumond.
The Maister of Lindseye.
The Lardis of Loychleavin, Dun, Pittarrow, Tillibarne, Glennowrchwhart.
Theis forsaidis war the principalles that hes sett St. Johnston at liberty agane.
The Erlles of Glencarne and Mortoun ; the Lordis Erskein, Boyde, and Auchquhiltre, with the Schereiff of Air and Lard of Calder, met them at Eddinbrught.
Thair nombre, yf the Quene and Frenche had remanit at Edinbrught, haid bene above xii thousand men ; bot seyng the departure of the saidis, they ar cum bot vi thousandis to the towne.
The nombre of lardis and gentilmen I am not able to racken, that ar presently with them.
Thair be yj band with them who hath not yet declaret them selfis : the Erlle Marshall, the Erlle of Athoill, and Lord Forbes, with the Lardis of Drumlanerik, Loychwhinvarr, and Garlyce.
Many of the rest will subscryve with them, to keip owt the Frenche men.
IX.
Knox to Sir Henry Percy.
The mygMy confort of the Holie Ghost for sahdation.
Eight Honorable, having the oportunitie of this bearer unsuspect, I thought good to requyr of you such freindshipe, as that, from tym to tym, conference and knowledge myght be betuixt us ; I mean not my self and you, but betuixt the faythfull of both the Eealmes, to the end that inconveniences
LETTERS, ETC.
1559. pretended against )jotli, may, by Goddis grace and niygbty power, be avoided.
Your fkytbfull freind jNIr. Kyrkcaldye hatb rea]Jorted to me your gentiil beliavour and faytlifull tidelitie in all tliingis laughlull, lionest, and godlie.
Continevv, Sir, and God by you shall wyrk mor tluui now appeareht.
The trubles of this Kealme ye hear, but the cause to many is not knowen.
Persuaid yourseK, and assure otheris, that we mean neyther sedition, neyther yit rebellion against any just and lauchfidl authoritie, but onlie the advauncement of Christes religion, and the libertie of this poore Eealme.
Yf we can have the one with the other, it will fare better with England ; which yf we lack, althought we murn and smart first, England Mali not eschape much worse truble in the end ; but this had I rather communicat face to face than committ to paper and ink.
This other letter 1 have direct to Mr.
Secretary Cycill, which yf your Honour will cause to be delivered, I supposs you shall not offend him.
Other thingis I have Mliich now 1 can not write for continuall trubles hinging upon my wicked carcass, by reason of this tumult rased against Christ Jesus in his infancye.
I pray you.
Sir, to know the myndis of the Quenes Grace, and of the Counsall, tidching our support, yf we be persewed by an armye of Frenche men ; to lett me be assured by advertissement reassonably
; and thus, committing you to the protection of the Omnipotent, I must hartlie desyr you to apardon my bold interprise, interprised not altogetther withoutt deliberation, as the trubles of those tymes do suffer.
From Edinburgh, the first of July 1559.
Youris to command in godliness, John Knox.
To the right worshipfull Sir Hary Percye knyght, "Warden Deputye.
Be these delivered in haist.
1559.
SIR
T. PARRY, ETC. TO SIR H. PERCY.
Sir Thomas Paery and Sir William Cecill to Sir Henry Percy.
After our harty commendations, yonr letter of the 28 cam saffly to our hands, with other ij letters included, the one to yourself, the other to me the Secretary.
The matter is worth interteynment, for the sequele therof, that maye tend towards this realme, if it be well forseene.
Besides the letters ye mention, much creditt utterd to yow by Ledyngton's man, which we wold that ye had also wrytten : as the case is, we pray yow forbeare not to wr}i;e at length any intelligence to govern ment, although ye maye imagyne that the same is alreddy knowen unto us.
The matter contenned in Kyrkaldie's letter is imparted where it ought to be, and for ansuer therto, I, the Secretary, doo presently wr5i;e my letter unto y(nv, which is ment that ye should shewe to Kyrkaldie for satisfaction of hym, but not to delyver the same owt of your hands, otherwise then that ye maye retorne it liyther, immediatly after that he hath sene it.
We think it necessary that ye shuld speke with hym, becaus otherwise we see not how, without sending the letter to hym, he shuld so playnly understand our meanings.
How the same may be compassed, ye best knowe ; because ye might looke for more larger and particular offer of succor than is conteyned in niyne, the Secretarj^es letter.
But considering Kyrkaldye to be but private man, and not before otherwise [knowen] to us but in good grace with the Dowager, and besides that not perceiving by his letter that the matter moved by hym shuld come from them, of whom ye informe us by yours ye cold not presently discend to farder parti cularety of ansuer than we have doone.
Therfore uppon this, if furder matter shall playnely appere thence, and such as shall bryng creditt with it, then maye there also be furder understand to them what our meaning will be in this case.
And so we end, praying yow in any Avise use all expedition that
LETTERS, ETC.
1559. ye maye in tins matter So we bid yow liartely well to fare, praying yow to assure your self of our frendsliip to the uttermost of our power.^ XI.—SiK William Cecill to Sir Henry Percy.
Mr. Percy, I have receaved yours, dated the xxviij of June, with other ij letters from your frends and myne, tlie one to yow, the other to me ; by which I parceive matter moved of no small momente, and therin doo note great wisdome in the writer.
I have communicated the same with suche lierin have moste authoritie and credite for tlieyr dignitie and wisdom.
And like as the matter is of greate weighte, so it is to be circumspectly considered and prudently forsene, ye shall doo well to endevour your self, yf it maye be brought to passe, to speake with Kirkcaldee, and to say unto hym, that for his letter I doo privately thank him for so frendly a participation with me of such a matter, and that I have emparted it in such secrete manner, and to such parties who have had very good likinge therof, as therto was behovinge ; and this therby fynde, that it is muche desyred to understand more particularly of the pourposes of the sayde Erles and other the Protestants mentioned in the saide letters, and to what end they meane to directe their actions ; and in what sort they will, and how they be able to accoinplishe the same ; what dowtes they have, if any adverse powi-e againste their pourposes. And fynally, where it seemeth by the saide letter a thinge desyred there to be knowen, what supporte might be looked for hence, in case an army of Frenshmen shuld be broughte in thither to oppresse them ; it is also as much here desyred to be knowen, yf supporte shulde be sent hence, what manner of amitie mighte ensue betwixte these two Eealmes, and '
Indorsed, " Th. Parry, W. Cecill to Sir H. Percy.
4 July 1559."
1559.
SIR WILLIAM CECILL TO SIR HENRY PERCY.
how the same myght be hoped to be perpetuall, and not to be so slendre as heretofore hath bene, without other assurance of coutynuance than from tyme to tyme hath pleased Fraunce, And yet because I meane not for wastinge of tyme to leave theyr question wholly unanswered (in the meane tyme hopinge to have our motion aimswered with convenient speede), ye maye assure hym, that rather than that Eealme shulde be with a forren nation and powere oppressed and deprived of the aunciente Libertyes therto belonginge, and the Nobilitie therof, and specially such as at this presente seike to mayntayne the truethe of Christian religion, be expelled, the Authoritie of Inglande wolde adventiire with powre and force to ayde that Eealme againste any suche forren invasion.
And indeede I dare also affyrme, wolde be as sory to see that aunciente Nation to be overthrowen and oppressed as this our owne, wherin upon farther certenty understand from theme, so the same may be mayde bothe probable, and, as future things may be, assured for perpetuitie of a brotherly and nationall frendship betwixte these two Eealmes, there may be shewed in playne manner more particularly of this offre.
In the meane season, you shall require him to consider, that since this matter is written of, but by him alone, beinge not to me otherwise knowen but as a private gentleman, and yet one whome I well esteme, bothe for his wisdom and his religion, he will not mislyke in me that I doo not presently, at this fyrst tyme, sende to hym any my expresse letters, consyderinge the place and otTice whiclie I here holde, but rather committ the truste to be delyvered over by you ; and yet, to make as good assurance of that whiche I write to you, as thoughe he had it confyrmed by my hand and seale.
And ye shall instantly require of him, that althoughe privately I oughte, and so wolde, in any private matter credite him, yet it behoveth, in these common greate causes, to respecte of such personages with whome I doo conferre to have that which he shall imparte to me, to be made clere, probable, and so perfect,
LETTERS, ETC.
1559. as in discours theruppon sliuld not be found lackinge manysolutions of objections, or doubtes that migbte theruppon arise, wherby the cause shulde be producted overmuche ; and so do commende you to Almightie God.
From Grenwiche this iiij of Julij.
Your assured frend, W. Cecill.
To the Right Worshipful, and my very assured frend.
Sir Henry Percy, Knight.-^ XII.
Lords of the Congregation to Sir W. Cecill.
Eight worshipfull Sir, after our harty commendations, the contents of a letter direct by you to Sir Hary Percy was notified to us by Mr. Kyrkcaldey of Grange, this Sounday, the 16th of July,^ by the which we perceave, that the said Grange, of zeale and faithfull hart which hee beareht to the furtherance of this our great (and befor the world) daungerus interprise, hath travaled with you, as with an unfeened favorer of Christ's trew religion, and of the libertie of your countrey, for knowledge of your mynde towards us, in case that we be assaulted by any foren invasion, or greatter power then we be well able to resist.
Your confortable ansuer to that his question we have considderred, to our joy and confort, as also your motions, and what ye demand ; to witt. What we, the Protestants do propose ?
To what end we mean to direct our actions ? How we will, and we be able to accomplish the sam ? What dowbts we have of any adversary power ? And finally, in case that support should bei/ send from you. What manner of amytie myght ensew betwenet'j
' This letter is indorsed by Sir W.
^ j„ ti^g original the date is the 15tli, Cecill,—"4th July 1559.
My letter to but Suiulay was the 16th of July.
See SirH. Percy, returned agevn to me the footnote to this letter, vol. ii. p. 23.
23 of July."
1559. LORDS OF THE CONGREGATION TO SIR W. CECILL.
these two Eealmes, and how the sara myght 1)6 hoped to be perpetuall ? etc.
To which we brevely ansuer, That our hole and only purpose, as know^eht^ God, is to advaunce the glory of Christ Jesus; the trew preaching of his Evangile within this realme; to remove superstition, and all sortes of externall idolatrie
; to bridill to our powers the fury of those that hertofor have cruellie sched the blood of our brethren
; and, to our utermost, to maintean the libertie of this our countrey from the tyrany and thraldome of straungers, as God shall assist us.
How [we] be able to accomplish the premisses is to us unknowen only our hope is good that Hie that hath begun this good work by us, and hath by his power to this soe confounded the faces of our adversaries, will perform the sam to his glory, which cheafly we seak in this our interprise, becaus we suppose that neyther our present daungers, neyther yet the warlick preparations which Fraunce maykeht against us, be hyd from you nor from the Counsall : we omitt that part.
As touching the assurance of a perpetuall amytie to stand betwene these two Eealmes ; a^ no earhtlie thing in earht is of us mor desyred then such a joyfull connection, so crave we of God, that by his pleasur we may be those instruments by the which this unnaturall debate, which long hath continued betwene us, may ones be composed to the prase of Godd's glory, and to the confort of the faythfuU in both Eealmes.
And yf your Wisdomes can forsee and devise the meanes and assuraunces, how the sam may be brougth to pass, persuaid yourselves, not only of our consentes and assistaunce, but also of our constancye (as men may promise), till our lyves end; yea, farther, we will devulgat and set abrode a charge and commandment till our posteritie, that the amytie and league betwene you and us contracted and begun in Christ Jesus may by them be kept inviolated for ever.
As for the revolting to Fraunce (which you seam to suspect
It may be noticed that Knox, in writing, usually transposed the final ih to ht; and also lit to th.
LETTEKS, ETC.
1559. and fear) we uterly abhorr that infidelitie ; for now dost that voce of God contiuuallie sound in our eares, 'Whosoever blasphemeht, or tackest in vane the name of the Eternall, shall not escape vengeance.' Our amytie oi' league, as it hath another fundation then pactions maid by worldlie men for worldlie proflfitt; so do we not doubt but that it shall have another continuance, now we feale rather the heaven then the earht; but yet and yf we should look anything to temporall foundation, yet shulde we never have occasion to returne to Fraunce ; for now we begyn to perceave and to feale the burthen of that yoke which in the end shalbe intoUerable, and therfor intend we, by Godd's grace, to cast away such instruments (the Papisticall Clergye^), as by whom this Eealme hath bene befor abused.
Trew it is, that as yet we have maid no mention of any change in Authoritie, neyther yet hath any such thing entered our hartes, except that extream necessitie compell us thereto.
But perceaving that Fraunce, the Queue Eegent heir, together with Preastes and Frenchmen, pretend nothing elles but the suppressing of Christ's evangell, the mainteanaunce of idolatrie, the ruyn of us, and the uter subversion of this poor Eealme
; we ar fully purposed to seak the next remeady, to withstand their tyrannic, in which mater we liartKe and uufanedlie requyr the faythfuU counsall and furtherance att the Queues and Counsalles hands for our assistance.
Thus far have we hasarded to mak you participant of our purposes, estate, and request; becaus in the said letters you requyr of the said ]\Ir. Kyi-kaldye some farther ground and assurance then his owen wordes and writeing, because of the place which you hold, and of the personages with whom that matter must be discours ; and yet we doubt not but your Wisdom will so prudently and so closlie handell all thingis, that the adversaryes have no advantage by discovering of things to all men befor just ripnes of the action so requyr.
And thus referring farther to the instructions and * These words are added on the njarsrin.
:s^ -.c^ •s?
}~- 7 ^VA.^ ^*-i^ /^<^r*t"* ^-^ i/ 1 /->. y 'L^/r^'^e^ ^- \rioL4i^U^ .
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-^^
1559.
LORDS OF CONGREGATION TO QUEEN ELIZABETH.
creditt committed to the messenger.^ We committ you to the protection of the Omnipotent ; requiring farther ansuer with expedition.
From Edinburgh, the 19th of July 1559.
By your assured friends, Akchbald Ekgyll.
Alex'' Glencakne.
James Sancta^dkews.
EoBEET Boyd, — Pateik Euthwen.
Andeo Wchelteie.^ To the right worshipfull Sir William Ceycill knight, cheaf secretarie to the Queues Majestic.
These deUver, etc. etc.
XIII.—LoEDs OF the Congregation to Queen Elizabeth.^ Eight myghty, right high, and ryght excellent Prencess, with our most humell commendations unto your Majestie, Albeit that heirtofor diverss men have wissed, and as occasion hath offered, prudent men have devised a perpetuall amytie betuix the inhabitantis of these our two Eealmes; and yit that no good success hath to this day ensewed of such travail and laubouris tacken, yit can not we, the professouris of Christ Jesus in this
Eealme of Scotland, cease to be suytaris unto your Grace, and unto your Grace's weall advised Counsall, to have eie to this our present estate.
We have enterprised to enter in battell against the Devill, against Idolatrie, and against that sort of men, who befor abusing, asweall us as our Princes, maid us ennemies to our freindis and the manteanaris of straungearis, of whome we now look nothing but uter subversion of our com- ^ The conclusion of this letter varies ^ The oviginal of this letter is also in from the copy printed in his History, Knox's handwriting, with the exception vol. ii. p. 25. of the signatures.
See the accompany- ^ This letter is, excepting the signaing facsimile, tures, in the handwriting of Knox.
LETTERS, ETC.
1559. mon wealht.
Yf in tliis l)attall we slialbe overtlirowen (as that we stand in great daunger, asweall by domesticall ennemies as by the great preparatioim which we hear to be send against us by Fraiince), we fear that our ruyn shalbe but an entress to a greatter crueltie.
And tharfor we ar compelled to seak remeady against such tyrannye, by all such lauchtfull meanes as God shall offer.
And knowing your Grace to have enterprised liek Eeformatioun of Keligion, we could not cease to requyr and crave of your Grace, of your counsall, subjectis, and realnie, such support in this our present daunger, as may till us be confortable, and may declayr your Grace and counsall unfeanedlie to thrust the advancement of Clirist Jesus of his giorius gosj)ell and whatsoever your Grace and Counsall can prudentlie devise, and reassonably requyr of us agane for a perpetuall amitie to stand betuix the two Eealmes ; shall, upon our partes, neyther be denyed, neyther yit (God willing) in any point be violated
: as at mor lenght we have declared in a letter written to your Majesteis Secretarie Mr. Cicill.
Eight myghty, right hight and rycht excellent Prencess, we pray Almychty God to have your Grace in his eternall tuition, and to grant you prosperus success in all your godlie proceadingis to the glory of his name, and to the confort of all those which earnestlie thrist the incress of the kingdom of Christ Jesus.
From Edinburgh, the 19th of Julij 1559.
By your Grace's most humill and faythfuU freindis.
Arc[h]bald Ergyll.
Alex"*. Glencarne.
James Sanctandrews.
Patrik Euthwen.
Egbert Boyd.
Andro Wcheltrie.
To the right myghty, ryght high, and right excellent Princess the Quen's Majestic of England.